On-Device AI Emerges as Critical Measure

Excerpt reposted from 7wData.

Traditionally, laptop performance has been measured by CPU and GPU, but on-device AI processing is now a critical third measure. And that’s especially crucial for enterprise PCs as hybrid work challenges crystalize, and the way we use our laptops has fundamentally changed over the last several years. More than ever before, cutting-edge PC technology is our most important and effective business communication and productivity tool.

Without the right tools to be effective at work, Gallup found that employees often feel less connected to an organization’s culture, their experience impaired collaboration and relationships, and work processes were often disrupted. That’s particularly true for PCs without AI capabilities, which suffer from lagging, blurring noise and video quality, multiple distractions, unsecured privacy, unstable connectivity and short battery life.

“Having high-performing on-device AI processing alongside the CPU and GPU is crucial for enterprise users,” says Kedar Kondap, SVP and GM, Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “Productivity today requires more: faster, smarter, more reliable connectivity, higher-quality cameras and clear and crisp audio, to fuel vital human-to-human interaction. It requires advanced security tools, and it flourishes with dedicated AI processing to power natural interactions with incredible power efficiency.”

If the consumer is mobile, the device needs to be intelligent enough to manage power for every individual user; on every platform it needs to understand user preference with on-device learning.

“Our vision is to drive the convergence of mobile and PC, bringing the best of the smartphone to your laptop,” Kondap says. “That means enhanced software, custom hardware, unprecedented connectivity and broad ecosystem support.”

AI-enabled PCs are stepping up to the challenge that enterprises face. They offer premium performance, multi-day battery life and fast 5G connectivity to help increase productivity, collaboration and security. Qualcomm Technologies itself has partnered with leading PC OEMs to launch several generations of Snapdragon compute powered laptops in thin and light designs.

Here’s a look at how AI features are improving work for hybrid employees:

Enhanced and more natural video conferencing. Video quality in video conferencing has been a long-time industry challenge, but now it’s become a crisis. Millions of people turn on their cameras and microphones every day across multiple applications, from Discord and Google Meet to Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom and many more. A recent study showed that 75% of people judge colleagues based on their audio quality in meetings, while 73% judge based on video quality.

Image from Samsung.